MLB Trades/Free Agency: One Position Each Team Needs to Upgrade

With winter meetings now underway, MLB free agency is really going to get moving, and we will see a lot more rumors floating around. Naturally, most rumors will involve players being suited to the needs of each team.

It's obvious which teams need pitching and hitting—players like Prince Fielder will be rumored as heading to the Mariners to give them a pop, and C.J. Wilson will be rumored as heading to the Yankees even if the sides seem far apart currently.

Every team needs to upgrade at least one position, even the World Series-winning Cardinals.

Boston Red Sox: Starting Pitching

Unlike the Orioles, at least we can get more specific with the Boston Red Sox.

They have one of the best hitting lineups in the game and plenty of good relievers.

After Josh Beckett and Jon Lester, though, there's a lot of problems in the rotation.

Clay Buchholz can't play a whole season, Tim Wakefield might be done, John Lackey sucks, and who knows what will happen with Daisuke Matsuzaka? Even if he does well, he has one year left. For that matter, re-signing Erik Bedard looks like one of the better options.

Adding an innings-eater to the back of the rotation (no one hit 200 last year) is the Red Sox's best bet, as that's what did them in late in the season.

Tampa Bay Rays: Infield

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While the Tampa Bay Rays have a legit third baseman in Evan Longoria and should not have much trouble finding a new first baseman if they don't keep Casey Kotchman, the position that needs to be filled most is shortstop or second base.

Reid Brignac doesn't appear to be an everyday player there, and Ben Zobrist can only play one of those spots.

Finding a leadoff-type hitter who can frequently get on base would be the best option, as the Rays were low in batting average and hits last year.

Toronto Blue Jays: Closer

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The Toronto Blue Jays are quickly improving, and if the prospects produce like management expects them to in 2012, they will have few major issues—even Prince Fielder is not really a major need for them.

What they do need help in, however, is the bullpen, namely the closer slot.

The Frank Francisco/Jon Rauch closer situation was far from ideal, and both are free agents anyway.

Luckily, the free-agent market is loaded with quality closers, so they should be able to land one without much difficulty.

Detroit Tigers: Third Base

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Brandon Inge looks like he's about done, at least offensively, and unless they want to try Jhonny Peralta at third base, the Tigers are going to need to find one in the offseason, as it is the glaring weak link in the lineup.

Third base is always a difficult position to shop around for, and the Tigers were perhaps lucky that Inge could play there, so they were able to hold the fort down and hope that this year's class would be better.

Alas, they may have to make a trade to get one that can plateau with Inge until his contract's up.

A fifth starting pitcher would also be great, through their rotation is actually quite solid heading into 2012.

Seattle Mariners: First Base

The Seattle Mariners have a great rotation and a solid bullpen, but you wouldn't know it looking at the win-loss records. That's the result of the starting lineup being unable to hit.

Aside from Ichiro, the most productive players were Dustin Ackley and Mike Carp, who only played part of the season.

It doesn't even matter all that much what position they improve with a stronger bat, as it would be difficult for the lineup to get worse, though if I had to pick one spot, I would say first base, since I don't see Justin Smoak becoming a high-caliber first baseman.

Texas Rangers: First Base

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There are those who thing Mitch Moreland is a rising stud at first base and believe he should stay with the Rangers, and there are those who think he's entirely replaceable, and that the Rangers should do just that in 2012.

I'm in that second camp. I see first base as the clear weak link.

While replacing C.J. Wilson is a high priority, they at least have other starters who can step up, especially in the playoffs, which is something I don't see Moreland doing after a terrible 2011 playoffs, though he was good in 2010.

Washington Nationals: Outfield

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The Washington Nationals thought they would have a solid outfield in 2011, but they were mistaken.

Laynce Nix signed elsewhere in free agency, Roger Bernadina appears to only be a fourth outfielder, Jayson Werth has not played to his deal and while Rick Ankiel provides good defense, that's about it.

At the very least, they need a left fielder to add to their roster, and having an offensive-minded center fielder who could platoon with Ankiel may not be too bad, either.

Houston Astros: Starting Pitching

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The NL Central seems to have a pattern.

If the Houston Astros are really considering trading Wandy Rodriguez or Brett Myers, then they better bring in pitchers who can go immediately, because they are already dead last in ERA, and a Rodriguez departure would make them even worse.